VOCAL WORKSHOPS
2024
Alina Kuzma
Summoning Feminine Spring
Ukrainian Ritual Song & Dance
Saturday, march 16, 2024, 11:30–1:30 PM
Cre8ive NYC, Midtown, nyc
what we learned:
Vesnianky, also known as hayilky or hayivky, are traditional springtime songs deeply rooted in Ukrainian culture. The spring season is personified as a woman, "Vesnianochka Panianochka," and her arrival is summoned with ritual song and dance representing the rejuvenation of nature and the hope for a prosperous year ahead.
For hundreds of years, these songs and dances have been performed by women in villages during the spring equinox and throughout the Easter season. With themes of love, fertility, and the awakening of nature after the winter, vesnianky play a significant role in Ukrainian folk life, symbolizing the joy and optimism associated with the arrival of warmer weather and the renewal of life.
We participated hands-on in this tradition with Alina Kuzma, learning songs and dances passed down through generations.
About alina kuzma
American born singer and fourth-generation bandura player Alina Kytasty Kuzma is known for her strong soulful vocals, earthy ridniy holos (open folk voice), and versatility in multiple languages and genres. In her artistic creations, she explores liminal spaces and stories of the past in modern settings. From 2008 to 2023, Alina toured North America as lead singer of Korinya Folk Band, which released four studio albums in that time. In 2015, she co-founded the Women’s Bandura Ensemble of North America and plays in the ensemble. Alina has performed around the world, and is continuing her artistic journey in the vibrant musical community of Ontario.
Jurij Josyfovych
Vocal Polyphony from the Chernihiv Region
Sunday, may 12, 2024, 3:00–5:30 PM
Playwrights Downtown, NoHo, NYC
what we learned:
We were lucky to learn the traditional polyphony of Ukraine's Chernihiv oblast with acclaimed vocalist Jurij Josyfovych.
Chernihiv's vocal polyphony showcases a blend of traditional melodies, lyrical storytelling, and innovative vocal arrangements, creating a mesmerizing tapestry of sound that echoes the soul of the region. In its expressive and nuanced songs with a distinctive sound Jurij describes as “sweet and tart,” the vocal polyphony of Chernihiv preserves a cherished musical heritage that continues to enchant audiences around the world.
About Jurij Josyfovych
Jurij Josyfovych is a Ukrainian singer and scholar of traditional music. Graduating from Lviv's "Dudaryk" choir school, he has explored Ukrainian authentic singing under mentors like Natalia Polovinka and Serhiy Kovalevych. Jurij has contributed to music-theater projects and international collaborations, showcasing a blend of traditional and contemporary influences. His solo projects like "New Psalma. Maidan" and "HEART. NOVA AVTENTYKA" revitalize obscure Ukrainian songs using electronic elements for modern resonance. From 2019-2021, he sang with renowned Lviv musical group Kurbasy. Jurij's directorial debut in "DREVO | Love" celebrates the 60th anniversary of the famous ensemble "Drevo" in the village of Kriachkivka in Poltava.